Yoder?s Natural Farm hosting Practical Farmers field day

BLOOMFIELD ? Robert and Luella Yoder and family of Bloomfield will host a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, ?Raising Multiple Species on One Pasture,? July 8 at Yoder?s Natural Farm near Bloomfield.

The free field day starts with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. 

Participants will learn about Yoder?s Natural Farm?s pastured-poultry system, including pen design, pasture access and more.

Discussion topics will include: multi-species livestock production on pasture; pastured broilers and eggs;

poultry pen design; free range or not?; and grass-fed beef.

?This field day will be a great opportunity for those interested in pastured poultry to learn from a farmer who is already doing it.? said Practical Farmers of Iowa?s Suzi Bernhard, who coordinates the organization?s poultry program. ?Participants can pick up tips on how to become more self-sufficient, increase profitability, scale up their operations and see how multiple poultry breeds fit in with the many other species on the pasture.?

Anyone who plans to attend should contact Bernhard by calling 515-232-5661 or emailing suzi@practicalfarmers.org.

Practical Farmers of Iowa and its members will be hosting more than 30 field days in 2011. Most field days are free, and everybody is welcome. For a copy of the 2011 Field Day Guide, call the Practical Farmers of Iowa office at 515-232-5661 or down load a schedule at http://practicalfarmers.org/events/field-days.html.

Yoder?s Natural Farm sits on 159 acres nestled in the rolling hills of Davis County. The farm comprises 100 acres of pasture and 59 acres of timber, and includes broilers, eggs, horses, hogs, beef cattle, dairy cattle and goats. Their pasture-based livestock is direct marketed to friends and family in the area, as well as, through farmers? markets in Fairfield and downtown Des Moines.